Real Wedding – Lara & Jesse, Port Adelaide SA
Lara knew the moment she stepped into her strapless Kyha gown that it was the one, in fact, it was the first and only gown she ever tried on. With just three months to plan, she and Jesse brought their wedding vision to life with heart, style, and a touch of DIY magic.
The ceremony at the Greek Orthodox Church was the most meaningful part of the day, a deeply personal moment that set the tone for everything that followed.
With her mum by her side managing DIY details, Lara infused the day with personal touches that felt effortless and intimate. From the ceremony to the reception, her romantic colour palette of sage and burgundy was woven throughout every detail, creating a cohesive look.
The reception itself, held at a charming Italian restaurant, unfolded as a relaxed, cocktail-style gathering, a perfect reflection of the couple’s style and love for each other. Every moment of the day was beautifully captured by Taylor Dianne, preserving the magic in timeless images.
The meeting.
We met through mutual friends, but the timing was never quite right until it was. When we finally reconnected, it felt effortless. We were instantly in sync, almost like two halves of the same person, and we clicked right away.
The proposal.
Jesse popped the question at the Botanic Gardens during a picnic. It’s one of our favourite date spots in the spring and summer, so it was the perfect and most sentimental place for such a special moment. I had already picked out the ring beforehand which turned out to be a great choice!
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was one of the most meaningful parts of the day, as our faith plays a big role in our lives. We were married at the Greek Orthodox Church in Norwood, Adelaide. The priest was incredibly kind and made the ceremony deeply personal and special for both of us.
Planning process.
The wedding planning process was actually pretty easy! We were engaged in March, and I planned the entire wedding in just three months. I really wanted a date that felt special and meaningful, and I love nice looking numbers, so we chose 25.10.25. It’s visually perfect, and even more special because both Jesse and I are 25 years old, so it all fits together beautifully.
The most challenging part was definitely the final few weeks before the wedding when everyone was rushing to get everything finished and ready. But even then, everything came together wonderfully in the end.
I have to say, SHEIN was a big help! We bought so many cute decorations and small trinkets for the wedding night that looked amazing in person. My mum also helped with a lot of DIY projects she made our welcome sign, wishing well, and even our personalised mirror that all the guests used for photos. She was such a big help and really made the day feel personal and special.
Style inspiration.
I’ve always loved Pinterest and had been curating my dream wedding board for years even before we were engaged! At one point, we considered eloping, but with such a large and loving family, everyone wanted to share in our special day. The colour theme was completely my idea: a romantic mix of sage and burgundy, which came together beautifully.
The outfits.
Finding my wedding dress was pure fate it was the first and only dress I tried on, and it happened to be the exact one I had pinned to my Pinterest board from the very beginning. I knew instantly it was the one.
Jesse had a similar experience. He always knew he wanted a classic tuxedo and found the perfect one at the very first store he visited.
Favourite moment.
I’m so happy I got to have this experience. My favourite part was taking all the photos although the weather wasn’t ideal, we made it work, and the photos turned out beautifully. Our photographer and videographer made the day so special and made us feel completely comfortable. All our guests loved them and couldn’t stop raving about how lovely Taylor and Tin were!
Final words.
After five wonderful years together, we couldn’t be happier to finally be married. It feels like the perfect next step, and we already feel closer than ever. We can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together and start a big, loving family of our own.
LARA & JESSE’S VENDORS
Ceremony location: Norwood Orthodox Church
Reception venue: Carmine & Co
Officiant: Priest of Norwood orthodox Church
Photography: Photos By Taylor Dianne
Videography: Tin Films (Associate videographer for Photos by Taylor Dianne)
Styling: Adelaide Party Hire
Florist: Blissful Blooms
Hair: Cole (owner of Coil Hair Studio)
Make-up: MANI MUA
The dress: KHYA Miles Dress from The Bride Lab
Shoes: Novo
Rings: TMC JEWELLERY
Catering and bar: Carmine and Co
Favours: Little jars of kalamata olives
Cake / Cake topper: 2 tier lambeth cake with bride and groom topper
Stationery / Signage: Canva
Entertainment: DJ
Transport: Vintage mint green car
Honeymoon: Europe pre-wedding honeymoon Aug-Sep 2025
